Inspection and clean-out door



' Feb. 18, 1930. D. L. FELTHAM INSPECTION AND CLEAN-OUT DOOR Filed 001;.10, 1928 Fig.3

g'rvuentoz eral reinforcing flange, with wedge-shaped- Patented Feb. 18,1930 UNITED STATES DOUGLAS L. FELTHAM, or roIiEno, OHIO INSPECTION ANDCLEANOUT DOOR Application filed October 10, 1928.

This invention relates to an inspection and clean out door especiallyadapted for use on steam boilers and the like. Heretofore, in connectionwith such doors, whether of the hinged or sliding type, it has beennecessary, each time the door is closed, to seal the crack between thedoor and the frame with some kind of cement compound, in order to obtaina tight oint.

It is primarily with the object of saving time and expense in connectionwith the inspection of boilers, therefore, that the present inventionhas been perfected. WVith this end in view, the door and the frame arecast with raised peripheral portions adapted to be ground to formcoengaging surfaces which fit closely without the use of cement. Thedoor is composed of comparatively thin light metal, dished to form anoutturnedperiphportions adapted to engage anti-friction rollers carriedby the frame, to secure the door tightly against its seat. Consequentlythe door is light and strong, may be readily opened or closed, and isnot easily warped by heat when in closed position.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be more particularlyexplained in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustratein detail one embodiment of the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the door and frame, thedoor being in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the construction to which the invention relates, the door frame 5 isbolted or otherwise secured to the wall 7 of the boiler and is formedwith an inturned flange 6 which defines the door opening. The door 8 ispreferably cast from aluminum or other suitable metal and is dished toform a peripheral outturned flange 9, so that the door may becomparatively thin and light, and at the same time strong and not easilywarped.

The door is adapted to open or close by a vertical sliding movement andthe frame 5 Serial No. 311,535.

is formed with vertical flanges 10 between Which the door is guided.Each flange 10 has a central extended portion 11 in whicha bolt or otherbearing member 12 is mounted for supporting an anti-friction roller 13,which overhangs the edge of the door and is adapted to engage theinclined portion of the flange 9.

In casting the frame and door, the coengaging portions are slightlythickened, as shown at 15 and 16, so that they may be subsequentlymachined to form a tight joint without the use of any cement. When thedoor is closed it is free to move downwardly until it is wedged tightlyagainst its seat. For convenience in manipulating the door, handles 17may be cast into the same. In opening the door, its lower edge may betapped to loosen it.

Thus it will be seen that the door and frame may be manufactured at amoderate cost, will be strong and durable, and will save a great deal oftime and expense when the boiler is inspected or cleaned. While I haveillustrated and described in detail one specific em bodiment of theinvention, it will be readily seen that the same may be considerablymodified without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a metallic door frame formed with a seat havinga plane surface circumscribing the door opening, of a door slidable intoclosed position and having a plane surface engageable with the surfaceof said seat to constitute a tight closure, flanges formed on the outerface of the door near opposite sides thereof and having inclined faces,and anti-friction rollers mounted on the sides of said frame in positionto engage said inclined faces, as the door is closed, to wedge the dooragainst said seat.

2. The combination with a metallic door frame formed with a seat havinga plane surface c-ircumscribing the door opening, of a door slidableinto closed position and having a plane surface engageable with thesurface of said seat to constitute a tight closure, said door beingdished inwardly to form an outturned continuous reinforcing rim, theoppo- Cit site side portions of said rim having inclined faces, andanti-friction rollers mounted on the sides of said frame in position toengage said inclined faces, as the door is closed, to wedge the dooragainst said seat.

3. The combination with a metallic door frame formed with a seat havinga plane surface circumscribing the door opening, of a door slidable intoclosed position and having a plane surface engageable with the surfaceof said seat to constitute a tight closure, the sides of said framebeing formed with vertical guide flanges between which the door isguided, anti-friction rollers mounted on said flanges and overhangingthe side edges of the door, and vertical flanges formed on the outerface of the door near the sides thereof and having inclined facesengageable beneath said rollers, as the door is closed, to wedge thedoor against said seat.

4. The combination with a metallic door frame formed with a seat havinga plane surface circumscribing the door opening, of a door slidable intoclosed position and having a plane surface engageable with the surfaceof said seat to constitute a tight closure, the sides of said framebeing formed with vertical guide flanges between which the door isguided, and anti-friction rollers mounted on said flanges andoverhanging the side edges of the door, said door being dished inwardlyto form an outwardly disposed continuous reinforcing rim, the opposedvertical side portions of said rim having inclined faces engageablebeneath said rollers, as the door is closed, to wedge the door againstsaid seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

DOUGLAS L. FELTHAM.

